Wichita eagle., 1887-12-08
THE JEW OF ROUDNIA.

between Minsk and the gulf of Bothnia
| offered no attractions TO retain the trav
eler. The villages and cities succeeded
each other along the intermirable route
differing only in the quantity of the houses
the number of the cabins and the size and
Importance of the churches.
But all the same, we may as well con.
fess, the sight of the post stations gave us
JOY the most picturesque scenery could
never have aroused It was necessary. as
I have already stated, to press On as
speedily as possible, for thousand and
one accidents conspired to delay US
which, with leisure and time to spare,
would have amounted to nothing. We
had neither, and it really began to seem
as if a fatality attended US. The route
we had taken, an obscure and unimport-
ant one, perhaps had great deal to do
with our misfortunes, but once embarked
upon it we had only to keep on.
''Some frightful catastrophe is going
to happen to u.s." l said to my travelling
companion; 'destiny, in her present hui
NOR, will never be content with less -
l had scarcely finished my sentence
when the position, turning in his seat,
pointed with the end OF his whip to a vii
lage lying in the distance. SIT is burning, -
said he, phlegmatically. AS he spoke, the
base Of the sky, darkened by approaching
night, suddenly REDEEMED, the outline of
the bourg became clearly visible, the tin
covered cupola of the mission church re-
fleeing the glare of the mounting flames
like the face OF a badly plated mirror
what is the name of the village?'' |
said to the position, as he thrashed his
horses to a greater speed.
''ROudnia," he responded, "the city of
Roudnia'-for 10 all Russian or Polish
peasants their bourgs are cities, provided
they cluster about q church. This city of
Roudnia was more fortunate than most of
them, for it possessed two churches, one
Of which WAS Catholic.
The horses, vigorously urged ahead,
soon gained the red, white and black beam
which forms the barrier of most Polish
cities. An official in frayed and greasy
uniform received the toll and we were off
again, the horses, who asked nothing bet
ter than to arrive at their stable, running
on the gallop through the dirty and i'll
smelling streets. A swarming crowd pre-
cipitated themselves in the same direction
toward the light of the fire-and soon
we could scarcely move for the throngs
of excited men and women who ran be-
side US.
at is the house of a Jew that is burn
ing" said the position suddenly, still
whipping his horses to urge them faster
''Why, how do you know that?' asked
my companion seriously.
How do | know its'' cried the rascal,
Laughing till you could see down his
throat, because it stinks SO Of grease"
Here the calash briskly turned the cor
ner at the risk of a serious upset, and we
stopped before the postal station. As the
man had said. it was truly the house of q
jew a Jewish butcher, which burned so
fuliously Just III front of us, on the side
of the Place.
The cOreligiOniSts of the poor dev1
were removing his furniture through the
window in front, st1l, as the fire had
caught in the rear, untouched and black,
with that profound backness which al
ways precedes combustion. Wreaths OF
yellow smoke filtered here and there
through the roof-fererunners of the con-
fiagration that would not be long in COM
ing.
While my companion busted himself in
making them give us other horses and
sign our passports, | remained upon the
steps of the station, raised several feet
above the level of the place, gazing at the
scene. A fire IS by no means a new oc-
currence in Poland, but when it is the
house OF a Jew only Jews run to his as
Sistance. The others-CatholicS, l mean
remain immovable, not perhaps without
secret satisfaction, for thus perish the
badly acquired goods of these sons of
Abraham. This brutal inhumanity is ex-
planned, if not excused, by the rapacity of
the Israelites, who thanks 10 their COM
mercial skill. keep in their own hands the
better portion of the revenue of these I'M
happy people, generally very poor, and
sui more impoverished by the system of
usury practiced in the country.
The wife and children of the butcher,
seated in the center of the place, filed the
air with plaintive cries, the dogs barked,
and our waiting horses constantly shook
their collars of bells. All this made up a
Eubbub impossible to describe, and was
TO stop my ears. Suddenly |
saw the jews engaged in carrying out the
furniture rush precipitately through the
doors and windows of the house. A wave
Of smoke filled the room they had left and
n ltNA ~ lldlIAtO III it, lJiItS-ILt
walls had caught at last.
ut burns well, " TRANQUILITY murmured
a voice ut my elbow. | turned to find
huge Cossack soldier, clothed in his gray
capote and swinging his arms to keep him
self warm. standing beside me. He was
the fire with undisguised salts
faction, and by the twinkle in his eve
suspected that he had taken too many
glasses Of eau de vie.
"Ah. miserable, miserable mer' walled
the butcher loudly, standing in the middle
Of the place regarding with CONSERVATION
his moaning family. He tore his hair and
bis curls fairly quiveTed on his head in the
rapidity andimpetuosity of his movements.
Miserable, miserable me" he con-
-inued, Il have forgotten my old motherr'
4 burst of laughter was the Poles only
answer.
But Thought she was with you. cried
lis wife approaching him. Where is
ne? Tell Us quick With a gesture of
despair he pointed 20 the house. then COW
red his head with q corner Of his robe.
Every one now ceased to laugh, for
Tewess though she was, she was still a
woman. she is il the chamber on the
eft; it is not yet on fire-Saye her, my
save hers he added in a voice of
sony. The friends who had aided him,
s well as those who were simply looking
u, regarded each other silently, but with /
ut making move
why don you go for her yourself;' !
ried gamin n the crowd. The butcher |
I'd not hear him, but continued his Ia /.
1entatiors.
''Half Of my possessions 10 the one who /
Tin save her." he cried; half, yes; fully .
ne-haif, for the poor old womanr'
He was now appealing 70 the Poles, but (
70 one stirred. All at once my neighbor, /
ne Cossack, descended the steps and